Character processing apparatus and a character processing method

Abstract

Character pattern data that are formed from outline data are stored. A thickening amount or a narrowing amount is input to thicken or narrow the character pattern. A coordinate value for the stored outline data is transformed based on the thickening amount or the narrowing amount that is input. A shape of an outline is determined when a transformation is to be performed, and coordinates that are to be transformed are adjusted based on a determination result. Since the adjustment is performed by referring to the shape of the outline, character data, such as bit map data and gray scale data, of high quality can be provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An information processing apparatus comprising: thickening means for thickening an outline of a pattern comprising a plurality of strokes, the outline comprising a plurality of outline points;   discrimination means for discriminating, for each adjacent two of the plurality of strokes of the outline thickened by said thickening means crossing over each other at a crossing angle, whether or not the angle is equal to or less than a predetermined value; and   correction means for correcting outline points on adjacent two strokes crossing over each other at a crossing angle if said discrimination means discriminates that the crossing angle is equal to or less than the predetermined value.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said correction means corrects the outline points by moving the outline points on an outer outline toward the outline points on an inner outline when said thickening means thickens the outline by a positive thickening amount. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said correction means corrects the outline points by moving the outline points on an inner outline toward the outline points on an outer outline when said thickening means thickens the outline by a negative thickening amount. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said correction means does not correct the outline points on adjacent two strokes crossing over each other at a crossing angle if said discrimination means does not discriminate that the crossing angle is equal to or less than the predetermined value. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outline is provided for each stroke. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outline is not provided for each stroke. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pattern comprises a character pattern. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising output means for outputting the pattern whose pattern is thickened by said thickening means. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said output means comprises a printer. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said output means comprises a display. 
     
     
       11. An information processing method comprising the steps of: thickening an outline of a pattern comprising a plurality of strokes, the outline comprising a plurality of outline points;   discriminating, for each adjacent two of the plurality of strokes of the thickened outline crossing over each other at a crossing angle, whether or not the angle is equal to or less than a predetermined value; and   correcting outline points on adjacent two strokes crossing over each other at a crossing angle if said discrimination step discriminates that the crossing angle is equal to or less than the predetermined value.   
     
     
       12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said correcting step corrects the outline points by moving the outline points on an outer outline toward the outline points on an inner outline when said thickening step thickens the outline by a positive thickening amount. 
     
     
       13. A method according to claim 11, wherein said correcting step corrects the outline points by moving the outline points on an inner outline toward the outline points on an outer outline when said thickening step thickens the outline by a negative thickening amount. 
     
     
       14. A method according to claim 11, wherein said correcting step does not correct the outline points on adjacent two strokes crossing over each other at a crossing angle if said discrimination step does not discriminate that the crossing angle is equal to or less than the predetermined value. 
     
     
       15. A method according to claim 11, wherein the outline is provided for each stroke. 
     
     
       16. A method according to claim 11, wherein the outline is not provided for each stroke. 
     
     
       17. A method according to claim 11, wherein the pattern comprises a character pattern. 
     
     
       18. A method according to claim 11, further comprising an output step for outputting the pattern whose pattern is thickened by said thickening step. 
     
     
       19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said output step comprises a printer. 
     
     
       20. A method according to claim 18, wherein said output step comprises a display. 
     
     
       21. A memory medium storing computer-executable process steps, the process steps comprising: a thickening step for thickening an outline of a pattern comprising a plurality of strokes, the outline comprising a plurality of outline points;   a discriminating step for discriminating, for each adjacent two of the plurality of strokes of the thickened outline crossing over each other at a crossing angle, whether or not the angle is equal to or less than a predetermined value; and   a correcting step for correcting outline points on adjacent two strokes crossing over each other at a crossing angle if said discrimination step discriminates that the crossing angle is equal to or less than the predetermined value.   
     
     
       22. A memory medium storing computer-executable process steps according to claim 21, wherein said correcting step corrects the outline points by moving the outline points on an outer outline toward the outline points on an inner outline when said thickening step thickens the outline by a positive thickening amount. 
     
     
       23. A memory medium storing computer-executable process steps according to claim 21, wherein said correcting step corrects the outline points by moving the outline points on an inner outline toward the outline points on an outer outline when said thickening step thickens the outline by a negative thickening amount. 
     
     
       24. A memory medium storing computer-executable process steps according to claim 21, wherein said correcting step does not correct the outline points on adjacent two strokes crossing over each other at a crossing angle if said discrimination step does not discriminate that the crossing angle is equal to or less than the predetermined value. 
     
     
       25. A memory medium storing computer-executable process steps according to claim 21, wherein the outline is provided for each stroke. 
     
     
       26. A memory medium storing computer-executable process steps according to claim 21, wherein the outline is not provided for each stroke. 
     
     
       27. A memory medium storing computer-executable process steps according to claim 21, wherein the pattern comprises a character pattern. 
     
     
       28. A memory medium storing computer-executable process steps according to claim 21, further comprising an output step for outputting the pattern whose pattern is thickened by said thickening step. 
     
     
       29. A memory medium storing computer-executable process steps according to claim 28, wherein said output step comprises a printer. 
     
     
       30. A memory medium storing computer-executable process steps according to claim 28, wherein said output step comprises a display.